The background of the poster shows the burning Shaolin temple. To make the temple look older than it actually was, the director asked Chung-Man Hai, the film’s artistic director, to build a second Shaolin Temple. Chung-Man Hai spent two months and 20 million yuan (US$3 million) building the temple, which is larger than the original Songshan Shaolin Temple.

For instance, the local charitable organization, the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, has pooled its resources to create Merry-go-round, a drama co-directed by indie helmer Mak Yan-yan and Clement Cheng, in celebration of the organization’s 140th anniversary. All the more surprising is the venture into the film industry by the Hong Kong restaurant chain, Tsui Wah Group, which in collaboration with the production company T-Films, is producing two stereoscopic 3D animation features and a live action film [Little Gobi, Flying Hero, Beach Spike]

Directed by Canadian/Chinese filmmaker Fan, “Home” - which tells the story of a migrant family traveling across China looking for work - was nominated Outstanding Feature, Direction, Production, Cinematography, Editing, International Feature and Audience Choice. Fan himself is nominated in six of those categories, making him the most nominated individual in the history of Cinema Eye.

The crew of Buddha Mountain celebrated their awards from the Tokyo Film Festival in Beijing. Fan Bingbing flew back from South Korea to participate. She was awarded Best Actress and Li Yu won the prize for Best Artistic Contribution. Fang Li revealed that Fan Bingbing worked on both Buddha Mountain and Lost in Beijing (Best Supporting Actress, Golden Horse and Best Actress, 4th Eurasia Film Festival) for no fee. Fan also donated the $5000 prize money to the cost of the celebration. In addition, Fan Bingbing presented Li Yu with a Mercedes Smart car to show her gratitude for helping her career.

Fan Bingbing’s many passionate kisses with Li Yu raised quite a few eyebrows.

A worker has died in an apparent suicide at a factory in Shenzhen run by Taiwan’s Foxconn, which makes goods for Apple, Sony and Nokia. Xinhua news agency says the worker died after falling from a building at Foxconn’s massive plant, which employs an estimated 400,000 people. There have been 10 earlier suicides there this year. Labour activists blame them on harsh working conditions.

Yen plays a man with a past — and wicked kung fu skills — sought by a detective, played by Kaneshiro. Tang plays Yen’s wife. Also starring as the villain is veteran actor Jimmy Wang Yu, best known for his role in Chang Cheh’s One Armed Swordsman. Wu Xia will be Wang’s first onscreen appearance in 17 years. (THR), (FBA)

Barbara Wong has begun work on writing a sequel to Perfect Wedding Dress and hopes to bring Miriam Yeung back again. (Sohu)

A sequel to Hidden Chamber of Secrets (Lost in Panic Room) is already being planned. This time the story will take place on a cruise ship. It hasn’t been determined whether Alec Su will return for the follow-up film or not. (Sina)

World premiere of 5-minute trailer for 3-D Sex and Zen: Extreme Ecstasy

Lan Yan (Leni Lan)

Vonnie Lui

Oh…

The film has been pre-sold to South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand recouping half the $25M investment costs. (Sina)

Hong Kong’s Next Magazine reports that Ronald Cheng only just last month signed the formal papers agreeing to a divorce from Charlene Choi. Up until then, Cheng had been hoping for a possible reconciliation and Charlene would change her mind. The recent high profile exposure of the Sa-Ting (William Chan Wai-Ting) relationship dashed his hopes. (Xinhua)

Aaron Kwok - Taiwan

Aaron Kwok celebrated his 20th year in music and his 45th birthday with 400 fans in Taiwan. (Xinhua-gallery)

Hong Konger Ho plays Anna, a woman with a mysterious past who meets the daredevil international delivery man of the film’s title (Morgan) during what may be his last drop, to someone who may, or may not, exist.

Chinese film officials heralding a cinema revival not seen since the 1930s.

With Hong Kongers firmly established in the mainland, Hollywood studios are homing in. Where 10 years ago it was Sony Pictures and five years ago it was Warner Bros. leading Hollywood’s China charge, now it’s Fox and Disney working on their co-production chops.

[Many articles are now recalling Anthony Wong's controversial remarks he made in the spring about unprofessional Mainland crews and deadly working conditions. At the time, his costar Tse Kwan-Ho was burned in the face while filming the TV series Secret History of the Yang Family. (Xinhua) ]

Writing, directing and starring in romantic film Ice Kacang Puppy Love, Malaysian singer/ songwriter Ah Niu is enjoying his broadened repertoire and spoke with the Global Times after the film’s Chinese mainland premiere Monday in Beijing.

After spy suspense film The Message (Fengsheng) and Western action film Wind Blast (Xi Feng Lie), director Gao Qunshu announced the third of the Feng Trilogy A Romantic Affair (Yichang Fenghuaxueyue De Shi) Thursday in Beijing.

Zhang Yimou’s latest work Under the Hawthorn Tree opens nationally on Thursday with the famous filmmaker meeting the press Sunday evening in Beijing, talking about his choice of young actors, film festivals and the ideals of love.

A Seven Little Fortunes reunion? Jackie Chan and Yuen Biao are trying to bring the old gang together. Besides Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao, Yuen Wah and Yuen Qiu, Eason Chan and Ronald Cheng are said to be in the cast. The film would be about the history of the Seven Little Fortunes and is reported to start shooting in October. (Sina)

Former general manager of Television Broadcasts Ltd. Stephen Chan Chi-wan has been charged by the Independent Commission Against Corruption for alleged corruption and conspiracy to defraud offenses when handling TVB business affairs, the ICAC announced on Thursday.

The film is about the romance between a fairy who has sweet smell but is an aphasiac and a young man from a wealthy family. The beautiful and innocent fairy saves the young man’s life and eventually falls in love with him.

He said that the 11-hour standoff, which led to the death of hostage-taker Rolando Mendoza and 8 Hong Kong tourists, was also hard for the Filipino people, particularly the police.

“If they killed the guy sooner, they will say why not negotiate first? If they negotiate first, they ask why not kill the guy sooner? So sad,” Chan tweeted.

Hong Kongers weren’t very pleased with Chan’s comments. Moments after, they set up a Facebook groups to criticize the actor, such as “Jackie Chan doesn’t represent Hong Kong” and “Jackie Chan doesn’t represent me.”

Johnnie To is said to be ready to begin shooting a new film in November based on the recent real-life Chongqing anti-corruption crackdown. [At least one senior Chongqing official was executed.] A script has been submitted and awaiting final approval by the film review board. Casting possibilities include Sun Honglei and Tony Leung Chiu-Wai. (Sina)(Related)

John Woo’s “A Better Tomorrow” showed the world what Hong Kong noir was all about, and the Korean remake of the 1986 classic is now awaiting release on Chuseok next month, with the support of Woo as a producer.

Tony Leung Ka-Fai and Kelly Lin are filming a thriller in Xi’an directed by Zhang Qi. Tony plays a mysterious doctor that has to solve six puzzles each one more suspenseful than the last. He has an ambiguous relationship with Kelly Lin. Filming should complete in September.

The back story relationship of Wu Jing and Zhang Jingchu was edited out of City Under Siege (21cn)

Andrew Lin brings his art exhibition to Beijing. He will begin work on Tony Ching Siu-Tung’s White Snake in September. Andrew worked on the special effects design on Alien 3 while living in the US before returning to Hong Kong and becoming an actor. He came out of retirement to work on special effects make-up for Josie Ho’s highly regarded Dream Home. He hopes to raise the level of Chinese special effects in the 3D White Snake which has a HK$10M special effects budget.

Hong Kong Filmmakers from the industry’s professional body composed of ten members, including: Hong Kong Film Directors, Screen Writers Association of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Society of Cinematographers, the Hong Kong Film Arts Association, Hong Kong Movie Production Executives Association, the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts Association, Hong Kong Cinematography Lighting Association, the Hong Kong Stuntman Association, the Hong Kong Film Association and the Hong Kong film post-editing professional associations, covering more than 1,800 workers over the film, as the industry’s key organizations and non-profit organizations. Committed to the protection and the protection of rights and interests of Hong Kong Filmmakers, Filming in Hong Kong to upgrade to improve the environment, as well as industry and government circles as a bridge.

Over the years the Federation of actively promoting the film industry, from film policy, education and training, which had spared no effort to promote Hong Kong films. Including the SARS outbreak during the launch, “1:99 Shorts” short film inspirational cheer for the people of Hong Kong; for the industry shortage of talent and established “film professional training program”; launched the “Hong Kong Film Workers professionally produced guidelines and Industrial Safety Manual” and so on.